Sweets players top prospect list

WALLA WALLA – Perfect Game Cross Checker, the nation’s largest baseball scouting service, released its list of Top 35 prospects in the West Coast League on Wednesday, with Walla Walla Sweets pitcher Cody Poteet topping the list.

Poteet was also named the top WCL prospect by Baseball America.

Other Sweets players recognized by Perfect Game were Sweets pitchers Jonathan Harris and Sean-Luke Brija, as well as Sweets outfielder Luke Persico.

Poteet, a right-handed pitcher and sophomore at UCLA, joined the Sweets pitching staff in late June after the UCLA Bruins captured the College World Series in Omaha. Poteet started six games for the Sweets during the regular season, going 3-2, while notching a 2-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Poteet represented the Sweets in the WCL All-Star game, where he was named the top prospect by MLB scouts.

This marks the second consecutive year that a Sweets player was named the top prospect in the WCL, with Sweets pitcher Hunter Virant receiving the honor in 2012.

“Cody is a fantastic, young talent who represented the Sweets and the Bruins with great pride during our run to the WCL North Division pennant this season,” said Sweets vice-president and general manager Zachary Fraser. “We are grateful to work with players of his caliber and thank (UCLA) coach (John) Savage for the opportunity.”

Sweets pitcher Harris of Missouri State was No. 26 on the list from Perfect Game. He appeared in 11 games for the Sweets in 2013 and finished with 30 strikeouts over 42 innings of work.

Brija, at No. 27, was 3-1 with a 1.07 ERA striking out 28 batters over 25 1/3 innings of work while leading the WCL in saves with 13.

Also named to the top 35 list was Sweets outfielder Persico, who hit .222 on the season with six doubles, one triple, and nine RBI.

“Our coaching staff should also be recognized for their work over the past two seasons to be a part of the development of players that we hope will do great things in the game,” added Fraser. “They are among the most trusted and talented at this level of the game and are key to our ability to sign this type of talent.”

The Walla Walla Sweets will open the fifth season of West Coast League play in June of 2014.